Dave Rygalski: The Best Boyfriend of Gilmore Girls

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While Luke Danes has his sweet moments, he isn’t always the ideal boyfriend on Gilmore Girls. He’s definitely a good person, and consistently shows he’ll go out of his way to support Lorelai and Rory, no matter what.

Okay, let’s be real – Luke is hands-down Lorelai’s best match. But Gilmore Girls isn’t just about her romance! The show really got people talking about Rory’s love life too, and the debate between Dean, Jess, and Logan still goes on. Honestly though, I think the series did Lane dirty. She started out with such a promising story, seemingly headed for a happy ending, but it just… fizzled out. It’s a shame, really.

Dave Rygalski Is Gilmore Girls’ True Best Boyfriend

Honestly, when people talk about Rory’s boyfriends on Gilmore Girls, everyone jumps to Luke, but for me, Dave Rygalski is the gold standard. I mean, from the moment he saw her ad looking for a drummer and approached her about his band, you could just feel the connection. It wasn’t just that they both loved music, but that they both took it so seriously – they really saw it as an art form, and that’s what made them click.

Dave fully encourages Lane’s goals and drive, unlike Dean, who feels neglected when Rory prioritizes her future over spending time with him. Logan is supportive of Rory’s aspirations, but seems equally content if she leaves Yale, while Dave specifically loves Lane because she’s so determined and ambitious.

Team Jess has the most fans, but it’s important to remember he wasn’t a great boyfriend to Rory during season 3. He had a habit of shutting down or completely disappearing whenever they faced a problem, avoiding conflict instead of working through it.

Watching Lane and Dave’s relationship reminded me a lot of Rory and Dean’s, especially because Lane’s mom, Mrs. Kim, was immediately against Dave. She’s a really tough woman, especially when it comes to her daughter, and honestly, most guys would have run away from that kind of pressure. But Dave didn’t back down – he actually seemed to enjoy proving himself to her! It was really something to see.

He genuinely impressed Mrs. Kim and made a strong, respectful case for why he’d be a good partner. Plus, Dave set the bar incredibly high for romance when he read the entire Bible in a single night just to ask Lane to the prom! He and Lane were one of the most beloved couples on Gilmore Girls, and many fans consider him the show’s ideal boyfriend.

Luke Loves Lorelai, But His Communication Issues Prevent Them From Having A Great Relationship

While Dave might have been a better boyfriend on paper, Luke is still a genuinely good person who’s always open about his feelings for Lorelai. Everyone was thrilled when Luke and Lorelai finally kissed in season four, and his heartfelt “I am all in” speech during their first date remains one of the most romantic scenes in Gilmore Girls.

Okay, let’s talk about Gilmore Girls. I have to say, the show really stumbled with the April storyline, and it seriously damaged Luke and Lorelai’s relationship. It felt like a huge misstep when Luke discovered he had a daughter and, instead of sharing this massive news with Lorelai right away, he kept it secret for two whole months! And then, instead of letting Lorelai be a part of things, he tried to keep her and April completely separate. It just felt…wrong, and honestly, really frustrating to watch.

He’s clearly dedicated to being a good father, but he’s also Lorelai’s partner, and completely excluding her from this important part of his life isn’t supportive. By keeping their lives separate, he’s distancing himself from the very person he promised to always rely on.

Okay, so as much as I love Lorelai, she’s definitely not blameless in the whole Luke drama. Her communication skills could be…rough, to say the least. Honestly, giving Luke that harsh ultimatum at the end of season six felt really unfair. If she’d just been willing to talk things through, maybe they wouldn’t have hit such a wall, and she probably wouldn’t have made that impulsive mistake with Christopher. It just felt like she shut down instead of trying to work it out.

However, even if Lorelai had tried to explain things to Luke, it’s doubtful he would have been receptive. Like Jess when he dated Rory, Luke struggles to be a supportive partner unless conditions are just right, despite his feelings for Lorelai.

While Luke and Lorelai do eventually get married in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, he’s not perfect and doesn’t always live up to fans’ expectations.

Dave’s Character Very Well Could Have Been Ruined If He Was On Gilmore Girls Longer

Although Dave didn’t make mistakes as significant as Luke’s, he was only on the show for a short period. He left during season 3 when Adam Brody moved on to star as Seth Cohen in The O.C., a role that launched his career.

As a big fan of both shows, I always thought it was a good thing Dave Rygalski left Gilmore Girls. Looking back, if he’d stayed, the show could have really done a disservice to his character. They ended up pairing Lane with the pretty immature Zack, and then rushed her into a marriage and twin pregnancy after her first time being intimate – honestly, it was a really poorly handled storyline, and I think Dave dodging that bullet was a smart move for him.

It’s easy to imagine a similar storyline happening with Lane and Dave on Gilmore Girls. Actor Brody also discussed his character, questioning whether he deserved the label of “perfect boyfriend.” He explained, “He wasn’t in the picture for very long, and we don’t know how he would have behaved long-term. It’s possible he was exhibiting love bombing behavior.”

Brody is correct that Dave’s role in Lane’s future on Gilmore Girls was uncertain, and it’s possible he could have lost his ‘perfect boyfriend’ status. However, as Gilmore Girls fans, we tend to hope for the best, and it’s unlikely Dave was manipulating Lane with excessive affection. While Brody’s perspective might be more informed than mine, I believe he’d agree that Lane deserved a better partner.

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2025-11-04 01:39